Colchester Water: Supplier, Meters & Average Costs

Recently moved to Colchester and have some questions about your water supply? You will be able to find who looks after the Colchester water supply as well as sewerage services in the information below. In addition, we have helpful tips on how to deal with Colchester water hardness so that you can enjoy top quality tap water in your home.

Colchester Water Supplier

Colchester Water is supplied by one water company, Anglian Water. Here are the contact details for your Colchester water supplier:

Colchester sewerage and wastewater is handled by the same company. Here are Colchester sewerage and wastewater contact details:

Be aware that calls to numbers starting with 03 may be charged at local rates by your phone company.

Water Rates Colchester

Water rates in Colchester depend on whether your home has a water meter or not. You can find out very simply whether your Colchester water rates are metered or not by taking a quick look at your water bill. Homes with a water meter will have a meter number listed on their water bills.

Homes that do not have a water meter won't, but they will have the rateable value of the home instead. The rateable value part of your Colchester water rates will have already been determined by your local council in the 90s and will probably not have changed since then.

If you've just moved into your new home and don't have a bill, you can look outside your house or in the front garden for a water meter. Sometimes the meter may be located inside your house near to the stop tap.

Do you want to read more about water meters? check out Selectra's essential guide to water meters.

The average water rates Colchester residents are being charged result in an average water bill of around 419 a year. This amount combines both water supply and sewerage costs.

If you want to save money on your water bill then our handy guide to water rates in the UK will give you some great tips & tricks to lower your water bill.

Colchester Water Hardness

Colchester water hardness is rated as hard water. This means that the water supply to your property contains high levels of hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium (over 201ppm). These minerals are contributing factors to limescale and can affect the taste of your water.

Colchester water's hard rating can lead to scaling in kettles, sinks, dishwashers and loos. There are ways to mitigate hard water furring or scaling in Colchester. Hard water is also not as effective at cleaning clothes, dishes, glassware and even you!

1. Baths, sinks and toilets - Use an acidic sanitiser regularly (available in local shops) to clean susceptible surfaces in order to clear limescale deposits.
2. Kettles - Do not overfill your kettle with water in, general. Make sure that you clean your kettle by half-filling and adding two tablespoons of white vinegar, leaving it for four hours in order to loosen scale build-up. Rinse and repeat to remove scale.
3. Dishwashers - Take advantage of the built-in water softener. Make sure you regularly top off it off with dishwasher salt in the appropriate compartment.]

Can you drink the water in Colchester?

Yes! It's perfectly safe to drink the water in Colchester. The water in Colchester meets very high standards making it safe to drink. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate has scored Colchester water quality a 99.96% in overall mean zonal compliance, meaning that your water is safe to drink. It is not necessary to boil or filter Colchester water.

If you notice a change in taste or smell of Colchester water this may be due to one of the following reasons:

1. Chlorination - a safe way to ensure hygiene throughout the pipe network.
2. Seasonal changes in water characteristics can infuse Colchester water with an earthy smell or taste.
3. Plumbing can contribute to the taste of your household water, adding metallic, salty or rubbery hints.

If you have questions about your water's taste, smell or appearance, you should not hesitate to contact Anglian Water.

Colchester Water Problems

Colchester water problems can include anything from a flooding in your local area, burst water pipes or no water in your home. This is why it's essential you should make sure you know what to do and who to contact regarding water emergencies.

If you notice a water leak or flooding outside your Colchester property, you need to do one of the following:

1. If you are out, call or tweet Anglian Water
2. If you are near a computer or tablet, go to the "report a leak" section of Anglian Water and fill out their online form.

Colchester No Water

If you have no water in your home, you need to find out if the issue is to do with your home plumbing or a Anglian Water outage impacting Colchester.

1. Check the "In Your Area" sections of the Anglian Water website for any information explaining why you have no water.
2. Ask your neighbours whether they have the same issue as you.
3. Check that your stop tap is open

If you have no water is it only no cold water or no hot water? If you have cold water but no hot water, the issue will be with your home plumbing or heating and not the water company

If there is no cold water, not even a drop from anywhere, contact Anglian Water for further assistance.

Colchester Water Discolouration

If the water in your home is discoloured, the issue might be a Anglian Water issue impacting Colchester.

1. Changes to the colour of the water in Colchester may happen after a burst pipe has been repaired
2. Or, Anglian Water could have been carrying out upgrade work on the pipes in Colchester
3. Water Discolouration is not harmful and can often be cleared by running the cold water tap until it becomes clear

If there is no improvement after trying this, you can contact Anglian Water for assistance.